09-07-1994 SpecialCITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 7, 1994
. MEMBERS PRESENT: Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Russ Susag; Michael
Sandahl; Susan Rosenberg; and Don Priebe.
STAFF PRESENT: James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich,
Administrative Services Director; Thomas
Ferber, City C1erk;~~Donald Fondrick,
Community Services Director; Byron Wallace,.
Community Development Director; Jack
Erskine, Public Safety Director; William
Fillmore, Liquor Operations Director; and
Bridget Walstrom, Finance Manager.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
Item #1 CONTINUATION OF CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION OF 1994
REVISED/1995 PROPOSED BUDGET, PROPOSED 1995
PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY AND SET TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING
DATES. C.L. No. 247
City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 247
regarding the 1994 Revised/1995 Proposed Budget and Proposed 1995
Preliminary Tax Levy.
City Manager Prosser reviewed and answered questions
regarding the Contribution Fund, Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) Fund and the Drug/Felony Forfeiture Fund.
Administrative Services Director Devich reviewed and
answered questions regarding the Cable TV/Program Fund, Tourism
Administration Fund, Community Center Days Out Fund, and the
Safety Camp Fund.
City Manager Prosser reviewed and answered questions
regarding the Central Garage and Equipment Fund. Public Safety
Director Erskine reviewed issues related to Central Garage
maintenance services versus contracting out those services.
Discussion followed regarding the competitive comparison of costs
and service flexibility related to contract and municipal
maintenance services.
Don Cederholm, 6214 Fifth Avenue, asked about the use of
funds raised. by seniors for a Community Center bus now that state
grant funding for a bus is available.
Special Meeting Minutes -2- September 7, 1994
Community Services Director Fondrick stated that a portion
of those funds will be used to cover local cost share and special
equipment for the bus not eligible for state grant funding. He
stated the Community Center Inter Council Advisory Board has made
recommendations related to the Community Center for the remainder
of those funds. It was indicated this information would be
communicated through the Community Center Senior News and posted
at the Community-Center.
Administrative Services Director Devich reviewed and
answered questions regarding the Central Services and Data
Processing Fund, and Self Insurance Fund.
City Manager Prosser reviewed and answered questions
regarding the Electrical Services Fund. He indicated that issues
related to cost and comparable worth in the decision about
whether or not to hire an electrician requires Council direction.
Community Services Director Fondrick spoke in support of
hiring an electrician citing flexibility, an aging
infrastructure, aiid •i,he potential for School District purchase of
electrician services.
Discussion followed regarding potential costs of hiring an
electrician versus continuation of contract services and the need
for further comparison information for a decision.
Administrative Services Devich reviewed and answered
questions regarding the water and sanitary sewer funds. He
reviewed and presented alternative rate structure scenarios which
would increase the fee for the water and sanitary sewer
utilities.
Council Member Priebe discussed his disagreement with
borrowing from the utility fund balance for housing programs, the
amount retained in cash reserve, and raising rates.
Community Services Director Fondrick reviewed and answered
questions regarding the utility fund capital outlays.
Council Member Priebe discussed concerns regarding the
proposed 1997 charges to the water and sewer fund for a central
garage facility. He indicated that a reexamination and an
analysis of the need for a central garage should be done.
Council Member Susag suggested that the central garage
facility issue is a future decision and can be discussed further
at a Council Study Session. He stated support for setting
utility rates to cover the costs of operation and opposition to
subsidizing rates.
Special Meeting Minutes -3- September 7, 1994
Discussion followed regarding Metropolitan Waste Control
Commission (MWCC) charges and the impact on the sanitary sewer
fund.
Administrative Services Director Devich reviewed data on
comparable City water and sanitary sewer rates.
Community Services Director Fondrick reviewed and answered
questions regarding the Ice Arena, Swimming Pool, Golf Course,
and Special Facilities Funds.
Finance Director Walstrom reviewed and answered questions
regarding Debt Service Funds.
Community Services Director Fondrick reviewed and answered
questions regarding the Capital Improvement Budget and Program.
He presented two versions of Capital Improvement Budget, Plan A
and Plan B.
Discussion followed regarding funding and scheduling park
playfeature equipment replacement, particularly in regards to the
recent request for playfeature equipment by the Fremont Park
Neighborhood. Further discussion of this issue will occur on
September 12 when the Council meets with the Community Services
Commission.
City Manager Prosser reviewed the following focus budget
issues:
• Frequency of Your City Newsletter
• Street maintenance program
• Salary adjustments for 1995
• Street lighting assessment
• Hold levy increase to at or below inflation
• Water and sanitary sewer funds
• City electrical services fund
• Provide current level of services
It was consensus of the Council that the Commission
Recognition Dinner be held at the VFW or American Legion with the
understanding this will increase the budget for the event.
Administrative Services Director Devich outlined the budget
calendar as follows:
• Adopt Preliminary levy and set dates for Truth in Taxation
hearings - September 12
• Submit Preliminary levy and hearing dales to Hennepin
County - September 15 deadline
• Truth in Taxation hearing dates - December 7 and 14
• Certify final levy.- December 28•deadline
Special Meeting Minutes -4- 'September 7, 1994
He indicated that information addendums would be provided to the
Council to supplement the presented information.
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, stated concerns
about the impact of a levy increase on his property taxes.
Discussion followed regarding tax capacities, assessed
valuations, fiscal disparities, tax levies, and tax
classifications. It was noted that the tax levy impact on each
property. by each taxing jurisdiction is provided to individual
property owners in the Truth-in-Taxation notice mailed to each
property owner.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 10:05 p.m.
Date Approved:
9/26/ 94
Martin J. i sch Mayor
Jam s D. Prosser
fit Manager
`-~
homas P. Ferber
City Clerk
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